Major terror attack against India could trigger nuclear war: Experts

WASHINGTON: Pakistan may use nuclear weapons against India if the latter goes for a large scale military assault against it in retaliation for a major terror attack emanating from across the border, two top American experts have warned US lawmakers.

Given the presence of a strong government in New Delhi and the pressure on it from Indian citizens in the event of a repeat of 26/11 type terror attack, the ties between the two neighbours have greater danger of escalating towards a devastating nuclear warfare, in particular from Pakistan.

Such a dangerous scenario can only be avoided by the US working with Islamabad to ensure that there is no further large scale terror attack on India emanating from Pakistan, two top American experts - George Perkovich and Ashley Tellis - told members of the powerful Senate Armed Services Committee Subcommittee on Strategic Forces during a hearing yesterday.

"South Asia is the most likely place nuclear weapons could be detonated in the foreseeable future. This risk derives from the unusual dynamic of the India-Pakistan competition," said Perkovich, vice president for Studies Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.

"The next major terrorist attack in India, emanating from Pakistan, may trigger an Indian conventional military riposte that could in turn prompt Pakistan to use battlefield nuclear weapons to repel an Indian incursion. India, for its part, has declared that it would inflict massive retaliation in response to any nuclear use against its territory or troops," he said.

"Obviously, this threatening dynamic - whereby terrorism may prompt conventional conflict which may prompt nuclear war - challenges Indian and Pakistan policy-makers. India and Pakistan both tend to downplay or dismiss the potential for escalation, but our own history of close nuclear calls should make US officials more alert to these dangers. The US is the only outside power that could intervene diplomatically and forcefully to de-escalate a crisis," Perkovich said.

Tellis said the most useful US contribution towards preventing a Pakistani use of nuclear weapons in such a scenario -- and the Indian nuclear retribution that would result thereafter -- would be to press Pakistan to exit the terrorism business or risk being left alone (or, even worse, the object of sanctions) if a major Indian military response ensues in the aftermath of any pernicious terrorist attack.

"Other than this, there is little that the United States can do to preserve deterrence stability between two asymmetrically-sized states where the gap in power promises to become even wider tomorrow than it is today," he said.

Both the experts, who are from the Carnegie, told members of the Senate sub-committee that Pakistan today has more nuclear weapons than that of India.

Tellis said the most useful US contribution towards preventing a Pakistani use of nuclear weapons in such a scenario -- and the Indian nuclear retribution that would result thereafter -- would be to press Pakistan to exit the terrorism business or risk being left alone (or, even worse, the object of sanctions) if a major Indian military response ensues in the aftermath of any pernicious terrorist attack.

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This is what summarises it..
Pak should dismantle terrorism or be isolated for ever.

If terrorists attack happen India will use cruise missiles to strike the terror camps and probably the newly tested 2200 pound glide bombs . If Pakistan escalates so will India.
If the terrorists use RDD radiological dispersal device ( dirty bomb) on Indian soil like it has been mentioned by Yasin Bhatkal ( http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/...n-Bhatkal-tells-cops/articleshow/28116663.cms) then India will retaliate with full nuclear strike.
Any attack by TNW ( Tactical nuclear weapon ) on Indian soldiers India will retaliate with nuclear strike .
Pakistan must dismantle the terror camps in Punjab and PoK because if terror attack happens India will waste those places with conventional weapons if Pakistan escalates so will we and believe me we have a much bigger nuclear arsenal than Pakistan.

Keep aside this. The mufti government in J&K have released a terrorist and are planning to release more of them. Mufti was not a good HOME MINISTER nd now he is not going to be a GOOD CHIEF MINISTER. PDP is PRO PAKISTAN. Don't what BJP is going to do now........

Think deeper......These think tankers have a hidden purpose to make this type of report. It might be (1) to scare India and pressure it to make peace deals with Pakistan (do not forget Pakistan was and still is, West's paid and fed poodle) (2) To scare India and then, indicate that you need to become our poodle if you want to escape from Nuclear attack by Pakistan, Most important fact to keep in Mind is that West is desperate to counter Russia -China grouping. Austarlia or phillipines are not enough. The westerners do not want to fight with Russia-China axis directly as they know the heavy price of such a misadventure. Pakistan has become weak and unpredictable. India is the only power they can be used and they are drooling over to pit India against Russia-China group. On the other hand, western economies are sliding more and more into deflation and they need markets....big markets to sell their overpriced weapons and other expensive stuff. Creating a conflict between India and China can create demand for their exorbitantly priced weapons and they can make hundred of billions of dollars in profits. It needs a lot of intelligent insight to understand the evil crookedness of western rulers minds. They won't shed a single tear if millions of Indians or Chinese lives are lost. But, if a white skinned westerner dies , there is loud hue and cry all over the World. Lack of empathy and lack of remorse is main quality of minds of western rulers...especially for non western, non white people.
True narcissists and psychopaths ! Fearing the bully makes bully more arrogant. Confronting the bully makes bully subdued.

Tell these Think tank retards that If Pakistan can use Nukes....why India can not use them ? Their assumption that Pakistan can use nukes is faulty and biased. What can stop India from using a preemptive massive conventional and Nuclear attack on Pakistan...?

i tend to agree with the report by ashley tellis .....it is likely to go nuclear and fast too
just as there was this possibility in the 1999 kargil war

Yes....It might go nuclear and fast too....towards you in Europe too ! Radiation spreads fast ...towards Europe too. Tell Asley Tellis ,the moron...that Indian nukes are not dummy ...they are real too. And this is not 1999. India is fully prepared if anyone tries to stab in the back.